Novels online

Chapter 10

Episode 10 If you show up, you lose..

I slowly entered the cave passage..

The interior was well-ventilated, and the interior was not dark due to the light coming from the top of the cave here and there. Judging from the elaborate design and workmanship, it was clear that this place was made by truly skilled craftsmen..

I was slowly walking along the cave, and when I passed a certain point, I felt the surroundings shaking slightly..

Ssssssssut.

I knew it in an instant. The highest level of magic that only experts with keen senses can detect has been activated..

When I thought about it, it was only natural. Why couldn't the people who died here escape? If the gateway is difficult, you can just give up and leave. He died because he could not get out of this camp. When you enter, you feel comfortable walking in, but if you don't break through the gate, it turns into a hellish formation from which you can never get out..

How far did you walk like that??

A fairly large square appeared..

At the entrance to the square, there was a monument erected explaining the first gateway..

1. Cut down all enemies without using sword energy or sword power..

2. If you do not succeed in time, you will be given another chance after 10 days..

3. Those who are prepared should stand in the red circle..

‘Ten days later? What to eat until then?’

I looked around and there was a jar full of Byeokgokdan on the wall..

‘If you eat this tasteless food for 10 days, you will go crazy..’

Without hesitation, I stood in the middle of the red circle drawn in the middle of the square..

After a while, dozens of human-shaped wooden dolls rose from the floor in all directions with a clanging sound. The area that needed to be cut was painted red. Some dolls have necks, some have arms, and some have legs..

My body reacted reflexively..

The moment they came up, I jumped and instinctively decided which herbivore to cut first..

Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.

wooden doll cut down.

The dolls were not fixed in one place. The plates on the floor began to move and change positions..

In that crowded situation, some dolls started to go down again..

‘no!’

I could tell. If you miss that doll going down, it will never come up again, and at that moment, the challenge will be a failure..

That's why I cut down the doll that was going down first..

As expected, the other dolls moved quickly and obstructed my path to cut it down..

I jumped over and swung my sword..

Suddenly!

A doll that was almost missed was cut off..

As time went by, the dolls moved faster. At first, I thought it was a gateway to testing footwork, but it wasn’t. This gate was a test of judgment..

What to cut first?

Quick and accurate judgment comes first, and footwork comes second..

The gateway was complex and difficult, but not so sophisticated that it overtook my instincts and skills..

I cut down all the dolls and passed the first gate safely..

One thing was certain. If my skills were the same as before my regression, I would never have passed this first hurdle. Even if I ran, rolled, flew and made a fuss, I would have failed..

I was able to find out why the test was resumed again after 10 days..

Many challengers would have failed at this first challenge, and would have had to study and practice carefully for at least ten days to succeed..

Only someone who remembered exactly how the dolls moved and which doll fell to the floor and at what time would have been able to come up with a solution. A dull challenger would have had to try again and again..

Looking at the first hurdle, it is understandable that Socheon-dong's breakthrough time is three years on average..

Rumbling.

As soon as I passed the first gate, the stone gate leading to the second gate opened..

I slowly walked towards the second gate. At that time, before I left the first gate, I discovered writing on the wall. There were writings left on the wall near the exit from the deceased who came first..

―It was successful after nine attempts. Hahahaha.

―I'm sixteen.

―this is crazy!

―Success after 37 attempts. Tears fill my eyes due to the long hardships..

―Am I going to die here? I just can't solve it. I feel resentful towards my father..

―shit! I tried to go back but there was no way back..

―Success after six attempts, I dare to boast that I am the best..

Among them, I saw a familiar handwriting at the bottom..

―Assholes.

It was my father who passed through this gate before me..

“ha ha ha.”

I couldn't hold back and burst out laughing. Maybe my father passed it in one try..

Even so, strictly speaking, they are our ancestors, so you are boldly adding insults to them first..

“Dad, I passed it the first time too! ha ha ha!”

I walked like that and arrived at the space where the second gateway was..

As always, there was a monument standing in the second square..

一, use the sword hanging on the wall to cut the stone into two pieces within one stroke. You can also use sword energy or sword sword..

2. If you do not succeed in time, you will be given another chance after 20 days..

Third, those who are prepared should stand in the red circle..

This time, the next attempt is in 20 days..

By easy calculation, this means that it is twice as difficult as the first gate..

‘To endure twenty days with Byeokgokdan? I'd rather die.’

I stood at the red circle in the middle of the square, determined to succeed..

Cheolkeong.

A stone table rose from the floor. An iron ball the size of an adult's head was placed on the stone table..

‘I'm telling you to cut this iron ball..’

The given time is one hour.

It's too long to cut down with a single iron ball. Thinking that there must be a reason, I slowly looked at the iron ball..

The smooth surface was not ordinary iron, but artificially made stone..

Of course it's a stronger material than cast iron, right? When I lifted it, it was so heavy that I couldn't lift it without using my inner strength..

Hung on the wall were hundreds of swords to be used for testing. There were many different types. There were long long swords and short daggers. There were heavy swords and light swords. There was even a soft sword worn on the waist. There were literally all kinds of swords..

It's not an easy challenge, so choose wisely and try it multiple times..

I walked slowly and took out a sword hanging on the wall. It was a well-made ordinary iron sword..

I stood in front of the sphere, controlled my mind, and powerfully struck down my sword..

The sword broke and flew away with a cheerful sound. On the other hand, the sphere did not even leave a scratch. It was a really strong metal.

I looked at the sphere again. An iron ball that looks nothing special to the eye.

I took the sword again and swung it with the bell this time..

This time too, only the sword was broken, but the sphere was fine..

“After all, it just doesn’t work..”

I brought a new sword and injected it with internal power..

Ugh.

Immediately, a blue light flickered from the sword. It caused a blackout..

At this age before regression, I was able to use sword energy, but I could not create sword strength. It wasn't until I was in my thirties that I learned the tricks of swordsmanship..

“This is your first exam after returning..”

The color of each martial artist's sword is different, and even if they learned the same mental techniques, the color was slightly different depending on the person. I always thought that was fascinating.

I like this color that my sword gives off. Sometimes it looks like the sea, sometimes it looks like the sky, this pleasant blue color..

The moment when I was slowly cutting the sphere with my sword..

I quickly recovered my internal strength due to the sudden sense of discomfort that came over me. Then the sword on the sword disappeared..

‘This is too easy?’

At first glance, I thought it was a test to see if the challengers could use the sword steel since it would not cut with an iron sword. I think it would be difficult with a sword technique. That's why it's a test you can't escape until you learn the truth..

However, if it is a late index that can use the sword, it will be cut and passed..

It's such a simple gateway?

On the contrary, it is very difficult for a person who cannot create a sword to reach a state where he can create a sword..

One side is too easy, the other side is too difficult. something was out of balance.

So, just in case, I went to see the writings my seniors had left on the wall..

―There are two sides to the number of days through inspection..

―I tried 89 times to cut it without using the sword, but all of them failed and I ended up cutting it with the sword..

―I cut it without using a sword..

―How? I can't believe it.

―shit! My sword skills won't cut it. I can't speak up, what should I do??

―It's been two hundred days since I studied Geomgang. Just the smell of Byeokgokdan makes me vomit..

―It's a lie to say that I cut it without using a sword..

―I vote for a lie.

What I wanted to see was the words my father left behind..

As expected, my father’s last words were left behind.

―Damn it.

ha ha ha. I heard you said shit to your ancestors. This person has a hard time pretending to be solemn..

But this time, he added a word next to it..

―If you get angry, you lose..

‘If you heat up, you lose? Why did you add this? If it were my father, I would have cursed at the first hurdle and drank it..’

If you have a fever? If you have a fever? if?

I quickly went to the first slab..

一, cut the stone into two pieces within one hour. You can also use sword energy or sword sword..

Words that caught my eye.

You can also use sword energy or sword sword.?

‘It wasn't 'using', it was 'could be used'. In other words, doesn't it mean to just cut it and use it if it doesn't work out??

When I think about it, the time given is too long. One hour is enough time to cut hundreds of such stones. Lastly, the number of swords hanging on the wall is also excessive..

‘ah! This gate must be cut without using sword energy or sword power..’

When my father said that if he gets angry, he will lose, it was like a warning not to use his sword. When you raise the sword, hot heat comes out from the sword..

There is a fact that adds strength to that speculation..

Doesn't the fact that the retry period is 20 days mean that it is more difficult than the first gate??

This should just be cut down..

‘thank you, father.’

Anyway, I don't have time to do this if I don't have to use the sword..

I went back to the sphere.

When I thought that I had to cut it without using a sword, the sphere looked different..

‘How on earth can I cut this? Vertically? Horizontally? Laterally? askew? Or with a quick sword? With a heavy sword?’

I tried various things with the prepared sword. However, only the sword was broken and the sphere was not cut..

After about 30 failed attempts, I gave up and sat against the wall..

‘There must be a way.’

Time continues to pass, and now there is not even a moment left..

‘Should I try again in 20 days??’

I was in a state of semi-desperation..

‘Cut it with a sword and pass it.?’

But my father left a message on purpose, so I couldn't choose the easy way..

‘It's difficult, it's difficult.’

After sitting like that in desperation, I inadvertently let out some energy. It was an exercise I learned from my father in the mountains..

A ray of energy extended from my body and touched the sphere..

‘I wish you were a wild boar. Then it will be cut off with a single knife..’

Energy enveloped the sphere and I slowly felt its surface..

I opened my eyes for a moment.

“uh?”

There were fine lines on the surface of the sphere. It is a line that cannot be felt when seen with the eyes or touched with the hand..

I felt it with all my concentration. My energy began to surround it like a bird embraces an egg, and tried to become one with the sphere..

The line continued along the sphere and met again at the starting point..

I got up from my seat and slowly walked towards it. There was still a connection between me and the sphere with my energy..

I closed my eyes and felt the sphere only with energy and struck the sword precisely at that line..

Whoosh.

It wasn't hit hard. I focused on hitting the line on the sphere accurately without any error..

The next moment, something amazing happened.

Take a look.

The sphere split in half. That line was a kind of critical point that could accurately divide the sphere..

And even more surprises were waiting for me.

Again.

A pill rolled out of the empty space of the cut sphere..